Axed Corbynista Faiza Shaheen threatens Labour with legal action over 'campaign of racism, Islamophobia and bullying' after being blocked from standing at the election in 'purge' of leftwingers includ

A former Labour election candidate is threatening the party with legal action after she was dropped at the last minute in a 'purge' of leftwingers. It came as Sir Keir Starmer found his party at the centre of a row over attempts to remove of several election candidates, including veteran MP Diane Abbott. Faiza Shaheen, Labour's candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green in northeast London, told Newsnight that the party was pulling her candidacy for allegedly liking a series of Tweets that downplayed antisemitism accusations Amid a searing dispute over a 'purge' by supporters of Sir Keir Starmer against supporters of Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour deputy leader said she could see no reason why ' Diane Abbott shouldn't stand as an MP.' Close allies Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn have accused Sir Keir of trying to purge the Left of the party MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said he has been suspended by the party over what he called a 'vexatious and politically motivated complaint' Speaking to ITV News later this afternoon Ms Rayner said: I don't see any reason why Diane Abbott can't stand as a Labour MP going forward, she has been cleared as part of an investigation. Josh Simons, the director of the Starmerite Labour Together think tank, has been made the candidate in Makerfield Georgia Gould, the leader of Sir Keir Starmer's local council in Camden, and the daughter of the late Blair adviser Philip Gould, has been made a candidate Speaking to broadcasters in Monmouthshire, Sir Keir said: 'The situation in relation to Diane Abbott is that no decision has been taken to bar her and you have to remember that she was a trailblazer as an MP, she overcame incredible challenges to achieve what she achieved in her political career.